Pump



P. L. WIGTON Nov. 23, 1965 PUMP Filed Aug. 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Paul L. Wigfon ATTORNEYS Nov. 23, 1965 P. L. WlGTON 3,218,982

' PUMP Filed Aug. 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F 3 Paul L. Wigfon ZQW 4 gm ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,218,982 PUMP Paul L. Wigton, 1321 E. 12th Ave., Denver 18, C010. Filed Aug. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 301,312 Claims. (Cl. 10399) This invention relates to pumps and more particularly to a multipurpose pump for liquids.

Centrifugal pumps are widely used in pumping liquids, particularly when relatively low heads are required. Other types of pumps used in moving liquids include piston pumps, process pumps, and reciprocating pumps. All of such pumps have their maximum utility in special applications and most employ a relatively large number of moving parts. In some pumping operations there is excessive wear on some of the parts, requiring frequent shutdown for replacement and repair.

Liquids as used in this specification include liquids carrying suspended solids (slurries) and liquids of acid solutions.

The present invention represents a departure from conventional practice in eliminating internal moving parts and requires a minimum of repair and replacement. Also, because of the simplicity of its design and function, it has a normal pumping capacity with no surging when the feed is steady. In addition, the design simplicity makes the pump of the present invention adaptable to a variety of uses so that it is in effect a multipurpose pump.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 144,664, filed October 12, 1961, now abandoned, for a pump.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, economical and durable pump for liquids and low density pulps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and easily manufactured pump, which has no internal moving parts and may be operated continuously for long periods without repair or replacement of parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple, self-priming pump, which is easily cleaned without dismantling the pump.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pump which is adapted to pump liquids and liquid-slurries without surging and at a substantially uniform discharge flow.

Other objects and advantages of a pump constructed according to this invention will be apparent from the following description. The practice of my invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts in the several views. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a preferred embodiment of a pump utilizing the features of my invention and showing the arrangement of internal parts;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of the intake assembly of the pump of FIG. 1 as viewed from its discharge end, but with associated pump components omitted; and

FIG. 3 is another alternative embodiment of a pump assembly of this invention.

The pump shown in FIG. 1 has been drawn roughly to scale and comprises a main body or housing 10 formed by an upstream inlet section 11, an intermediate partitioning member 12, and a downstream discharge section 13. The pump is of the trunnion type and has a tubular extension 14 projecting forwardly at its intake end, which is journalled in a bearing assembly 15 seated in a bearing block 16. The downstream section preferably has a forward cylindrical portion 13a and a rearward frustroconical portion 13b terminating in an outwardly extending tubular portion 17 also journalled in a hearing assembly 18 seated in another bearing block 19. Preferably gaskets 20 are inserted between abutting surfaces and bolts 21 clamp the sections in pressure-sealed relation.

All of the aforesaid pump components are joined for rotation as a unit and may be driven in any suitable manner. As shown, a grove 22 at the forward end of upstream section 11 provides a seat for a V-belt transmission and motor drive (not shown). The extension 14 has a recess 23 at its outer end for receiving the end of a stationary line section 24 delivering the liquid supply to the pump. O-rings 25 seal the passage against leakage and pressure loss, but it will be understood that other types of seals may be used as desired.

The downstream section 13 has a correspondingly shaped liner 26 or discharge means which is stationary and has an outer end 27 adapted for connection with a line or conduit (not shown) by which the pump discharge is conveyed to a point of use. O-ring seals 28 are provided between end 27 and tubular portion 17 to prevent leakage and pressure loss.

Upstream section 11 contains means for directing the flow of entering fluid directly to openings or ports 29 in partition member 12. Said partition cooperates with the interior surface of discharge member 26 in defining a pressure discharge chamber 30 into which the entering liquid discharges. Such flow directing means may be of any suitable form for performing the intended function and as shown in FIG. 1 comprise a plurality of helical conduits 31, here shown as four in number. The conduits 31 are held at their intake ends in an apertured plate 32 and their opposite ends are secured in the ports 29 after approximately of revolution. This curvature is provided to impart an accelerated flow to the fluid entering the pump intake 33 and assists the pressure buildup in chamber 30. I

I have found that it is necessary in establishing a maximum discharge flow from pressure chamber 30 to have the intake area or capacity of the pump greater than its discharge area or volume. As shown in FIG. 1, the outlet passage 34 is of smaller diameter than the intake opening 33. It also is necessary to have the outlet passage stationary and to have the discharge means provide direct flow paths from the periphery of chamber 30 to passage 27. In the preferred arrangement shown, the discharge member will conform to the shaping of the pressure chamber throughout substantially its lengthwise extent. Under such conditions, I am able to maintain a uniform discharge flow without surging, whereas if only a stationary tubular passage is provided corresponding to portion 27, back pressure develops to such an extent that pumping ceases, in eifect.

With the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the main housing is rotated at moderate or high speed causing a suction to develop at intake 33, drawing liquid from supply line 24, even if the liquid therein is not maintained under sufiicient' head to fill the interior of the pump. The liquid drawn in through intake 33 enters the several conduits 31 which impart an accelerated centrifugal movement to the liquid because of their helical shaping.

As the liquid discharges from conduits 31 in substantially tangential flow into pressure chamber 30, the rate of rotation and the tangential flow create a substantial pressure in the chamber which is partially relieved by high velocity discharge through the restricted outlet 34. This stabilizes the pressure in the chamber for whatever rate of rotation has been established for a given operating the flow paths, pump is an effective sands pump and will pump slurries having as much as thirty-five pounds sands per 100 pounds of slurry. Further, due to the absence of moving parts in the pump interior, excessive wear is avoided as is irregular performance resulting from wear. Also, the balanced design of the pump makes the two bearing arrangement satisfactory for high speed operation without causing undue bearing wear.

The intake arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 provides flow paths of greater length than the distance between the center line of intake 33 and the ports 29, and in conjunction with the centrifugal movement imparted by the rotation and the tangential discharge into pressure chamber 30 establishes a greater pressure therein than could be provided by direct flow and the same rate of rotation.

In a typical test operation with a pump arrangement substantially as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pressure of the liquid at outlet 34 was substantially the same as the pressure at the periphery of pressure chamber 30 adjoining partition 12, and measured approximately 45-50 lbs. at 3100-3200 rpm. The pump tested had a 3-inch spacing between the center line of the pump and the center of ports 29. This pump was belt-driven and had a one inch discharge outlet. It discharged thirty-five to forty gallons per minute which is calculated as the equivalent of one hundred to one hundred fifteen feet of pumping head.

In the preferred arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the discharge means is a funnel-like structure, which also acts as a liner in addition to its main function of directing fluid from the periphery of the pressure chamber in an accelerated flow into and through its tubular portion within outlet trunnion 17. The wider end of member 26 faces partition 12 and its periphery is in closely spaced relation to the inner peripheral surface of the pressure chamber.

The form of pump shown in FIG. 3 functions in the same manner as the pump of FIG. 1 but has fewer parts. It comprises a hollow cylindrical body 41 having an inlet trunnion 42 at its upstream end and a discharge trunnion 43 at its downstream end. Trunnion 42 is supported in a bearing assembly 44 mounted on a pedestal support 45 and trunnion 43 is supported in a similar bearing assembly 46 on a pedestal support 47. A partition 48 divides the interior of the body or casing 41 into an upstream distributing chamber 49 and a downstream pressure chamber 50.

The intake of the distributing chamber comprises a conduit member having a straight portion 51 arranged as an outward extension through trunnion 42, and a helical portion 52 ranging through distributing chamber 49 to an opening 53 in partition 48 in proximity to the inner peripheral surface of casing 41. Said conduit member is secured for rotation with casing 41 and terminates at its outer end in a stuflrng box connection 54 with a stationary supply line 55. A pedestal support 56 provides a seat for the stufling box connection. A sheave 57 secured on the outer surface of body 41 provides a seat for a V-belt drive (not shown) by which the casing is rotated.

A funnel-like member 58 is supported in a stationary position in chamber 50 with its wider or intake end 58a in close proximity to partition 48 and the inner surface of body 41. Its tubular end 5811 extends through outlet trunnion 43 and preferably is of smaller diameter than conduit portion 51. The funnel-like member 58 functions as a discharge means to conduct the fluid from the periphery of pressure chamber 50 directly to and through its outlet portion 58b extending through the outlet trunnion 43.

Again in this embodiment, the helical shaping of conduit 52 and its arrangement for tangential discharge through opening 53 direct the entering fluid moving in centrifugal flow induced by rotation of the casing 41 at an accelerated rate to the point of discharge into the pressure chamber 50 which initially builds up pressure therein until it is stabilized in accordance with the discharge capacity of discharge member 58.

In operation, the housing 41 is rotated at moderate or high speed, causing a suction to develop in intake portion 51. The entering stream of liquid is conducted into curved or helical portion 52 which imparts the accelerated centrifugal movement to the liquid. The conducted liquid discharges in tangential flow into chamber and creates a substantial pressure therein, and such pressure is partially relieved by high velocity discharge through tubular portion 58b until it is stabilized for the established rate of rotation.

It will be understood that the pump of my invention may be produced in a variety of embodiments. FIG. 3 illustrates the basic arrangement of one inlet passage and one discharge passage. FIG. 1 employs multiple passages discharging into the pressure chamber and a single funnel-like member directing the discharge from the pressure chamber. If desired, a multiple passage discharge system may be provided but the single funnel-like member of FIG. 1 is so effective and simplifies balancing to such an extent that I prefer it over the multiple form. Other changes and modifications may be availed of within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pump comprising a hollow rotary casing having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluent material is moved, partitioning means rotatable with the casing and dividing its hollow interior into an upstream distributing chamber and a downstream pressure chamber, stationary discharge means in the pressure chamber having a smooth continuous uninterrupted annular inner surface portion followed by a continuous uninterrupted restricting conical surface portion between its intake and discharge ends, means for directing the fluent material entering from said inlet in tangential centrifugal fiow toward the inner surface of said discharge means during rotation of the casing, and means for continuously rotating the casing so as to stabilize the pressure in the pressure chamber and move the material along the smooth surface in an uninterrupted centrifugal flow to and through said discharge end, thereby establishing a substantially uniform discharge flow through the casing outlet.

2. A pump comprising a hollow rotary casing having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluent material is moved and which are concentric with the axis of rotation, partitioning means rotatable with the casing and dividing its hollow interior into a upstream distributing chamber and a downstream pressure chamber, hollow stationary discharge means in the pressure chamber having a smooth uninterrupted inner surface between its intake and discharge ends concentric with the axis of rotation, there being a plurality of uniformly spaced openings in said partitioning means adjacent the periphery of the pressure chamber for directing the fluent material in tangential centrifugal flow toward the inner surface of said discharge means during rotation of the casing, a plurality of conduits of uniform size in circumferentially-spaced arrangement within the distributing chamber, each having an intake at the casing inlet and a discharge in one of the peripheral openings for moving the material therebetween, and means for continuously rotating the casing so as to stabilize the pressure in the pressure chamber and move the material along the smooth surface in an uninterrupted centrifugal flow to and through said discharge end, thereby establishing a substantially uniform discharge flow through the casing outlet.

3. A pump comprising a hollow rotary casing having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluent material is moved and which are concentric with the axis of rotation, partitioning means rotatable with the casing and dividing its hollow interior into an upstream distributing chamber and a downstream pressure chamber, hollow stationary discharge means in the pressure chamber having a smooth uninterrupted inner surface between its intake and discharge ends concentric with the axis of rotation, there being a plurality of uniformly-spaced openings in said partitioning means adjacent the periphery of the pressure chamber for directing the fluent material in tangential centrifugal flow toward the inner surface of said discharge means during rotation of the casing, a plurality of helical conduits of uniform size in circumferentially spaced arrangement within the distributing chamber, each having an intake at the casing inlet and a discharge in one of the peripheral openings for moving the material therebetween, and means for continuously rotating the casing so as to stabilize the pressure in the pressure chamber and move the material along the smooth surface in an uninterrupted centrifugal flow to and through said discharge end, thereby establishing a substantially uniform discharge flow through the casing outlet.

4. A pump comprising a hollow rotary casing having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluent material is moved and which are concentric with the axis of rotation, partitioning means rotatable With the casing and dividing its hollow interior into an upstream distributing chamber and a downstream pressure chamber, hollow stationary discharge means in the pressure chamber having a smooth uninterrupted inner surface between its intake and discharge ends concentric with the axis of rotation, there being four uniformly spaced openings in said partition means adjacent the periphery of the pressure chamber for directing the fluent material in tangential centrifugal flow toward the inner surface of said discharge means during rotation of the casing, four helical conduits of uniform size uniformly spaced in the distributing chamber, each having an intake at the casing inlet and a discharge in one of the peripheral openings for accelerating the material therebetween, and means for continuously rotating the casing so as to stabilize the pressure in the pressure chamber and move the material along the smooth surface in an uninterrupted centrifugal flow to and through said discharge end, thereby establishing a substantially uniform discharge flow through the casing outlet.

5. A pump comprising a hollow rotary casing having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluent material is moved and which are concentric with the axis of rotation, partitioning means rotatable with the casing and dividing its hollow interior into an upstream distributing chamber and a downstream pressure chamber, a hollow stationary funnel-like member in the pressure chamber having a smooth uninterrupted inner surface between its intake and discharge ends concentric with the axis of rotation, said stationary member having a wider intake portion in proximity to the inner periphery of the pressure chamber and a narrower tubular portion extending into and through said casing outlet, there being a plurality of uniformlyspaced openings in said partitioning means adjacent the periphery of the pressure chamber for directing the fluent material in tangential centrifugal flow toward the inner surface of said stationary member during rotation of the casing, a plurality of conduits of uniform size in circumferentially-spaced arrangement within the distributing chamber, each having an intake at the casing inlet and a discharge in one of the peripheral openings for moving the material therebetween, and means for continuously rotating the casing so as to stabilize the pressure in the pressure chamber and move the material along the smooth surface in an uninterrupted centrifugal flow to and through said discharge end, thereby establishing a substantially uniform discharge flow through the casing outlet.

6. A pump comprising a hollow rotary casing having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluent material is moved and which are concentric with the axis of rotation, partitioning means rotatable with the casing and dividing its hollow interior into an upstream distributing chamber and a downstream pressure chamber, a hollow stationary funnel-like member within the pressure chamber having a smooth, uninterrupted inner surface, said stationary member being disposed in close proximity to '6 the'inner periphery of said pressure chamber and having its wider portion facing the partitioning means and its narrower tubular portion extending through said casing outlet, there being a plurality of openings in said partitioning means adjacent the periphery of the pressure chamber for directing the fluent material in tangential centrifugal flow toward the inner surface of said stationary member during rotation of the casing, a plurality of conduits of uniform size in circumferentially-spaced arrangement within the distributing chamber, each having an intake at the casing inlet and a discharge in one of the peripheral openings for moving the material therebetween and being of greater length than the linear distance between the inlet and the peripheral opening, and means for continuously rotating the casing so as the stabilize the pressure in the pressure chamber and move the material along the smooth surface in an uninterrupted centrifugal flow to and through said discharge end, thereby establishing a substantially uniform discharge flow through the casing outlet.

7. A pump comprising a hollow rotary casing having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluent material is moved and which are concentric with the axis of rotation, partitioning means rotatable with the casing and dividing its hollow interior into an upstream distributing chamber and a downstream pressure chamber, a hollow stationary member within the pressure chamber having a smooth, uninterrupted inner surface, said stationary member including a cylindrical portion at its intake end, a cylindrical portion of lesser diameter at its discharge end and a tapering intermediate portion therebetween, the discharge end passing the material through the casing outlet and having a lesser diameter than the casing inlet, there being a plurality of uniformly-spaced openings in said partitioning means adjacent the periphery of the pressure chamber for directing the fluent material in tangential centrifugal flow toward the inner surface of said stationary member during rotation of the casing, a plurality of conduits of uniform size in circumferentially-spaced arrangement Within the distributing chamber, each having an intake at the casing inlet and a discharge in one of the peripheral openings for moving the material therebetween, and means for continuously rotating the casing so as to stabilize the pressure in the pressure chamber and move the material along the smooth surface in an uninterrupted centrifugal flow to and through said discharge end, thereby establishing a substantially uniform discharge flow through the casing outlet.

8. A pump comprising a hollow rotary casing having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluent material is moved and which are concentric with the axis of rotation, partitioning means rotatable with the casing and dividing its hollow interior into an upstream distributing chamber and a downstream pressure chamber, a hollow stationary member within the pressure chamber having a smooth, uninterrupted inner surface, said stationary member including a cylindrical portion at its intake end, a cylindrical portion of lesser diameter at its discharge end and a tapering intermediate portion therebetween, the discharge end passing the material through the casing outlet and having a lesser diameter than the casing inlet, there being a plurality of openings in said partitioning means at uniform circumferential intervals and disposed adjacent the periphery of the pressure chamber for directing the fluent material in tangential centrifugal flow toward the inner surface of said discharge means during rotation of the casing, a plurality of helical conduits of uniform size in circumferentially spaced arrangement within the distributing chamber, each having an intake at the casing inlet and a discharge in one of the peripheral openings for moving the material therebetween, and means for continuously rotating the casing so as to stabilize the pressure in the pressure chamber and move the material along the smooth surface in an uninterrupted centrifugal flow to and through said discharge end, thereby establishing a substantially uniform discharge flow through the casing outlet.

9. A pump comprising a hollow rotary sectional casing having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluent material is moved and which are concentric with the axis of rotation, partitioning means rotatable with the casing and disposed between the casing sections for dividing its hollow interior into an upstream distributing chamber and a downstream pressure chamber, means at the periphery of the casing for clamping the partitioning means between the casing sections, a hollow stationary member within the pressure chamber having a smooth, uninterrupted inner surface arranged concentrically with said axis of rotation, said stationary member including a cylindrical portion at its intake end, a cylindrical portion of lesser diameter at its discharge end and a tapering intermediate portion therebetween, the discharge end passing the material through the casing outlet and having a lesser diameter than the casing inlet, there being a plurality of openings in said partitioning means adjacent the periphery of the pressure chamber for directing the fluent material in tangential centrifugal flow toward the inner surface of said stationary member during rotation of the casing, a plurality of conduits of uniform size in circumferentially spaced arrangement within the distributing chamber, each having an intake at the casing inlet and a discharge in one of the peripheral openings for moving the material therebetween, and means for continuously rotating the casing so as to stabilize the pressure in the pressure chamber and pass the material along the smooth surface in an uninterrupted centrifugal flow about the axis of rotation to and through the discharge end of the stationary member, thereby establishing a substantially uniform discharge flow through the casing outlet.

10. A pump comprising a hollow rotary sectional casing having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluent material is moved and which are concentric with the axis of rotation, partitioning means rotatable with the casing and disposed between the casing sections for dividing its hollow interior into an upstream distributing chamber and a downstream pressure chamber, means at the periphery of the casing for clamping the partitioning means between the casing sections, a hollow stationary member within the pressure chamber having a smooth, uninterrupted inner surface arranged concentrically with said axis of rotation, said stationary member including a cylindrical portion at its intake end, a cylindrical portion of lesser diameter at its discharge end and a tapering intermediate portion therebetween, the discharge end passing the material through the casing outlet and having a lesser diameter than the casing inlet, there being four uniformly spaced openings in said partition means adjacent the periphery of the pressure chamber for directing the fluent material in tangential centrifugal flow toward the inner surface of said stationary member during rotation of the casing, four helical conduits of uniform size uniformly spaced in the distributing chamber, each having an intake at the casing inlet and a discharge in one of the peripheral openings for accelerating the material therebetween, and means for continuously rotating the casing so as to stabilize the pressure in the pressure chamber and pass the material along the smooth surface in an uninterrupted centrifugal flow about the axis of rotation to and through the discharge end of the stationary member, thereby establishing a substantially uniform discharge flow through the casing outlet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 262,472 8/1882 Prewitt 10399 1,074,043 9/1913 Breuer 1G3100 2,181,677 11/1939 Whittome et a1 10387 2,544,154 3/1951 Hampton 10399 KARL I. ALBRECHT, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH H. BRANSON, 111., Examiner. 

1. A PUMP COMPRISING A HOLLOW ROTARY CASING HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET THROUGH WHICH A FLUENT MATERIAL IS MOVED, PARTITIONING MEANS ROTATABLE WITH THE CASING AND DIVIDING ITS HOLLOW INTERIOR INTO AN UPSTREAM DISTRIBUTING CHAMBER AND A DOWNSTREAM PRESSURE CHAMBER, STATIONARY DISCHARGE MEANS IN THE PRESSURE CHAMBER HAVING A SMOOTH CONTINUOUS UNINTERRUPTED ANNULAR INNER SURFACE PORTION FOLLOWED BY A CONTINUOUS UNINTERRUPTED RESTRICTING CONICAL SURFACE PORTION BETWEEN ITS INTAKE AND DISCHARGE ENDS, MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE FLUENT MATERIAL ENTERING FROM SAID INLET IN TANGENTIAL CENTRIFUGAL FLOW TOWARD THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID DISCHARGE MEANS DURING ROTATION OF THE CASING, AND MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING THE CASING SO AS TO STABILIZE THE PRESSURE IN THE PRESSURE CHAMBER AND MOVE THE MATERIAL ALONG THE SMOOTH SURFACE IN AN UNINTERRUPTED CENTRIFUGAL FLOW TO AND THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE END, THEREBY ESTABLISHING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DISCHARGE FLOW THROUGH THE CASING OUTLET. 